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m u w 6 7 3 a 7 F 7 u q; M fw 7 1 Z I vention to provide in compact form a comi. in this class of mechanism, whereby the construction is greatly simplified, its operation chines, especially of the class capaoitated to of one or more parts of the operating mech- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- LUTHER C. CROWVELL, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGN OR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ROBERT HOE, STEPHEN D. TUCKER, THEODORE H. MEAD, AND CHARLES WV. CARPENTER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR WEB-PRiNTlNG MACHINES.

SPECIFIGATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 453,407, dated June 2, 1891.

Application filed March 28, 1890.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER C. CROWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Delivery Mechanism for Web- Printing Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in delivery mechanism for web -printing maprint and deliver products varying in the number of pages or number of folds imparted to the sheet.

It is one of the objects of the present inbined newspaper and pamphlet printing press which shall be capacitated to produce a large variety of products varying from newspaper size to that of a small pamphlet, and in which the changes necessary for varying the products shall consist of a slight and convenient adjustment of parts.

With this object in view one part of my inventionconsists, generally, in the combination, with a suitable printing mechanism and cutting, collecting, and folding cylinders, of folding and delivery mechanism, whereby one or more additional transverse folds may be imparted to the sheet after passing the cutting, collecting, and folding cylinders, and whereby an additional longitudinal fold may be imparted to the sheet, the latter being delivered to one or the other of two flies and sets of carrier tapes, the folding and delivery mechanism being so constructed that the use of switches is entirely avoided, and the various products are obtained by a simple adjustment anism.

Another object of my invention is to improve the general construction of delivery mechanism for web-printing machines; and to this end my invention consists, further, of various improvements of general application rendered more certain and reliable, and a opposite side of the machine.

Serial 110.345,?37. (No model.)

more accurate registry of the sheet secured, all of which will be more particularly described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

A full description of the invention will now be given, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a web-printing machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the printing end of the machine on a larger scale than Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the delivery end of the machine on the same scale as Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, taken on the Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5 of Figs. 3 and 4, showing the web-turner. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the delivery end of the machine, certain parts being removed. Fig. 7 is an end view of the delivery mechanism. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation showing the course of the sheet from the cutting and collecting cylinders. Fig.9 is an end View of the transverse folding mechanism of the machine, taken inside the frame. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional elevation of the collecting and folding cylinder and its mechanism. Fig. 11 is a detail which will be hereinafter referred to. Fig. 12 is an end view of one of the folding rolls and its folding mechanism. Fig. 13 is a detail side view of the same. Fig. 14 is a plan of the same. Fig. 15 is a cross-section of the cutting, collecting, and folding cylinders, showing the operation of the tuckingblade and guards and the deflecting-guide. Fig. 16 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation showing the deflectingguide and the means for mounting and adjusting the same. Fig. 18 is a detail side view of the same. Fig. 19 shows a modified form of the same. Fig. 20 is a cross-section of the guide. Fig. 21 is a detail section on line 21 21 of Fig. 5. Fig. 22 is a detail of the means for locliing the folding-roll gears in position. Fig. 23 is a detail of the arm for operating the longitudinal folding-blade. Fig. 24 is a detail of the mechanism for slitting the edge of the sheet prior to folding. Figs. 25 and 2.6 show products.

Referring now especially to Figs. 1 to 5, it will be understood that the printing mechanism may be of any ordinary construction, that shown consisting, essentially, of the typecylinder A and impression-cylinder B, the two forming, together with the web-turner O, a printing and perfecting mechanism similar to that described and claimed in my Letters Patout No. 212,444. The type-cylinder A may be furnished with an inking mechanism of any suitable form, that shown consisting, essentiall y, of the distributing-cylinder D, distributing-rolls d, form-rolls e, and the usual fountain and transfer rolls; For imparting the necessary movements for feeding and distributing the ink upon the cylinder D any of the common forms of mechanism maybe used. I prefer to employ that shown, which, however, forms no part of the present invention, but is described and claimed in my prior application, Serial No. 274,032, filed May 10, 1888,

- and need be but briefly described herein.

The distributingcylinder D is mounted to reciprocate in its bearings, this reciprocating motion being imparted to it by the lever 10, provided with a bowl engaging with a pulley on the shaft of the distributing-cylinder, this lever being pivoted on the frame and operated by means of an eccentric stud on a short shaft 12, which carries a worm-wheel 13, actuated by a worm-gear 14 on a short shaft 15, which is operated from the shaft of the distributing-cylinder by suitable gears. (Not shown.) The transfer-roll 16 is carried against the fountain-roller by means of a cam 17 on the shaft 12, which operates against a bowl 16, carried on the end of one of the arms 18, supporting the transferroll, the latter being returned by its weight or by suitable springs. The fountain-roll is provided with the usual pawl-and-ratohet mechanism for rotating it, the lever 19, carrying the pawl, being actuated through the connecting-rod 20, adjustably connected to a lever 21, which is operated at each vibration of the lever 10 through suitable geared segments (not shown) carried, respectively, by the levers 10 and 21. A lever 22, carrying a bowl engaging with the pulley 11 on the shaft of the distributing-cylinder, reciprocates one of the form-rolls (Z in the direction opposite to the movement of the distributirig-cylinder. lhe web E is led from a web-roll at the end of the machine, which is provided with the usual brake and tension devices 8 9, and passes thence to the control of the first series of tapes a b. The upper series of tapes (1, as shown in Fig. 1, pass under the conducting-rolls 23 and upward past the impression-cylinder B, returning round another conducting-roll 23 and tightening-pulleys 24 to the first roll. The under series of tapes I) pass over the conducting-rolls 25 and around tightening-pulleys 26.

The operation of the printing mechanism and the movement of the web after it leaves the control of the tapes to b is the same as in my prior patent, No. 212,444, above referred downward around the turner O, returning over the other side of the turner and the other end of the two-part conducting-roll 27, as shown in Fig. 5, thence downward around the impression-cylinder B, and upward between the cylinders A B at the end opposite that by which the first impression was made,

the web thus being perfected and passing overthe conducting-roll 28 to the delivery mechanism.

It will be understood that the two parts of the roll 27 are rotated in opposite directions by means of gears at either end of the machine, the movement of one part being reversed by a second intermediate, as shown clearlyin dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3 and in full lines in Fig. 4.

The operation of the web-turner is the same as in my patent above referred to; but I have provided the following means of adjustment: The turner C is provided at its lower end with a fork 29, which embraces and slides on a short shaft 30, supported in the frame of the machine, this construction preventing any swinging movement of the lower end of the turner. The turner is supported from the shaft 31 by forked arms at each side of the machine, the arm 32 at one side being provided with a downward extension, forming a bell-crank lever, as shown clearly in Fig. 21. The depending arm of this bellcrank is forked and engages a grooved nut.

33, moving on a screw 33, provided with a hand-wheel and supported in the frame, and which slides transversely of the machine in a slotted plate 34, attached thereto. The shaft 31 also slidestransversely of the machine and is provided at one side with an arm 35, through which a screw passes into the frame, the screw 36 being provided with a hand-wheel for convenient operation. It will be seen that by rotating the screw 33 the horizontal arm 32 of the bell-crank lever will be thrown upward, thus .raising the turner O, and that an adjustment of the turner transversely of the machine is obtained by the movement of the screw 36, the turner being held in position vertically and longitudinally of the machine by the slotted plate 34 and the fork 29 and shaft 30, which, however, allow the trans verse sliding mox ement. This mechanism for adjusting the Web-turner is not claimed herein, but is covered by another application, Serial No. 356,001, filed June 10, 1800.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 3, 4, G, and 7, it will be seen that the web E passes from the roll 28 over the series of tapes f and is conveyed by them and the upper series of tapes g to the longitudinal folder F, from which the web passes between the usual external turning-rolls 51 and feeding-rolls 52 to the cuttin g,collectin g, and folding mechanism.

The lower seriesof tapes f, as shown in Fig. 3, pass from the roll 28, just in advance of the printing mechanism, to the conducting-roll 37,

thence backward around roll 38, forward around tightening-pulleys 39, and returning thence to roll 28. The roll 28 is mounted in a fixed position in the main frame, while the conducting-roll 37, from which the tapes receive their motion the roll 38, and pulleys 39 are mounted in a frame sliding on the main frame, as will presently be described. The upper series of tapes gare carried by the sliding frame and pass around the tighteningpulleys 40, thence forward'over the roll 37 returning around the conducting-roll 41. A slitter 42 is carried by an arm upon the transverse shaft 43, which also supports the arms carrying pulleys '40. This shaft 43 is adj nstable by means of the arm 44, provided with a thumb-screw 45, as shown in Fig. 4, whereby the slitter may be secured in or out of operative position.

As shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 7, the frame G, sliding on the top of the main frame and carrying the feeding mechanism and slitter just described, is provided at either side of the machine with a rack-bar46, engagedby gears 47 upon a transverse shaft 48, bywhich the frame may be moved in either direction, carrying with it the folder and conducting rolls and tapes, the shaft 48 being provided with a square head outside the frame for rotating it. The frame G is provided with a downward extension 49, which carries an adjustable arm 50, provided with a support for the folder, as shown in Fig 3.

The conducting rolls and slitter are driven by a system of gears shown in Fig. 4, and for the purpose of retaining the gears in mesh, while allowing the movement of the frame G,

the shaft of gear 3, carried by the frame and driving the rolls and slitter, has loosely mounted upon it a swinging arm 5, carrying the shaft of an intermediate 4, .with which gear 3 meshes. The shaft of gear 4 is mounted also in a second arm 6, swinging on the shaft of a gear 7, mounted in the main frame, and driving gear 3 through the intermediate 4.

The intermediate 4 is thus supported in the.

arms 5 6, and must, as the frame G moves, preserve its distance from both the driving and driven shafts and remain in mesh with the gears thereon. For steadying the shaft of gear 3 a plate h is supported upon the end of the frame G and slotted to receive the shaft, this plate having an adjustable connection with frame G by means of slots and bolts 1, Fig. 6. The frame G is similarly secured to the main frame by slots and bolts 2.

It will readily be understoodlhat by loosening the bolts 2 and rotating the shaft 48, carrying the gears 47, the frame Gmay be moved forward and backward, carrying with it the folderF and the series of tapes, thus securing accurate adjustment for the folder relatively to the cutting, collecting, and delivery mechanism, the swinging connection of gears 3, 4, and 7 allowing the movement of the frame without throwing the gears out of mesh, as previously described. Upon tightening up the bolts 2 the frame will again be locked in position. 7

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be understood that the movement of the frame does not effect the tension of the lower series of tapesf on account of the manner in which the tapes are led, as previously described, the forward or rearward movement of the conducting-roll 37, which tends to tighten or loosen the tapes, being compensated for by the equal forward or rearward movement of roll 38, having the opposite effect upon the tapes. From the longitudinal folder F and the rolls 51 52 the web passes to the cutting, collecting, and folding eylinders,which will be now described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 9, 10, and 11, H I are the usual pair of cutting and collect ing cylinders, each of a circumference equal to the length of a single sheet. The cylinder I is provided with the cutting-blade 53 and the cylinder H with the groove 54 to receive the same. The cylinder 11 is provided also with the usual sheet-holding pins 0 or other suitable sheet-holding devices, which are carried by crank-arm 55, extending from the supporting-shaft, and are normally held in operative position by means of the usual crank-arm 56, sliding rod 57, and spring 58.

It will be understood that any of the ordinary forms of folding-blades and mechanism for operating the same and the sheet-folding devices may be employed in this machine. I prefer to use, however, the folding-blade and operating mechanism shown, which forms no part of the present invention, but is described and claimed in my prior application, Serial No. 327,100, filed October 15, 1889, and need not be described in detail herein, the following general description suflicing.

The cylinder H is provided with a doubleedged folding-blade 7a, which is mounted upon shaft 59, journaled in the heads of the cylinder and operated to fold the sheet or sheets carried by the cylinder into the bite of a pair of folding-rolls in the usual manner. The shaft 59 is provided at one end with a transverse arm 60, parallel with the blade and carrying two operating-bowls 61 placed inside the edge of the blade. The arm 60 extends beyond the operating-bowls 61, and is provided at its ends with heart-shaped projections 62, for a purposepresently to be described. Secured to the frame at the end of the cylinder H is a circular cam K, by which the bowls 61 of the arm 60 are operated, the

. cam being so shaped that the folding-blade is held in position with neither of its edges protruded beyond the periphery of the cylinder, except just at the point where the folding is .to take place-that is, opposite the foldingrolls, where the cam is so shaped as to permit the folding-blade to make the required movement for foldiu g the sheet. Within the exterior cam K and supported by the frame- ICC work of the machine is a plate L, which reciprocates vertically between guides 6ft, secured to the frame, the lower end of the plate being inclined in opposite directions, so as to form a cam m, conforming in shape to the cam K at that point and forming the interior cam for operating the folding-blade when the plate L is in its raised position. In order to control the movement of the folding-blade at the point of its greatest protrusion, which is just as the bowl 61 passes the point of the cam m, the cam K is provided with a pair of camsurfaces 65, which project inward from its inner face, and between which passes the heartshaped end (32 of the arm (30, the movement of the blade thus being controlled until the bowl 61 has passed into the control of the cam on upon the opposite side of the folding-point. The movable plate L is provided, also, with an inwardly-projecting shoulder forming a cam 11, which,when the plate is in its lowest position, forms a continuation of the annular portion of the cam K, so that the advance bowl (51 upon the arm 60, instead of being directed outward to fold the sheet, is continued onward in its annular path, the blade not being operated and no folding taking place. The upper end of the plate L is provided, also, with a cam 0, which, when the plate is in its raised )osition en a es a bowl 66 on a crank-arm- 1 7 D 9 extending from the shaft of the sheet-holding devices and retracts the pins 0, so as to release the sheet or sheets in time to permit them to be folded by the blade 7t. It is evident that when the plate L is in its lowest position the cam 0 will not operate to retract the pins. The plate L is slotted vertically to permit it to move over a box extending inward from the frame and supporting the shaft 67 of the cylinder H, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. For reciprocating the plate L the shaft 67 of the cylinder 11 is extended through the framework and has splined thereto a small gear 68, which may be removed from the shaft and engages with a gear 69 of twice its size secured upon the end of a short shaft 70, which passes through the frame-work and is provided with a crank having a bowl '71, which enters an opening in the plate L. The gear 69 being double the size of the gear 68, the crank makes one revolution to two revolutions of the cylinder II, and the plate L, with its cams, is raised upon one revolution of the cylinder and depressed at the next, the movement being so timed that the plate will be in its respective raised and lowered positions at the time the foldingblade passes the folding-rolls. It is important that the cams on or should remain in a fixed position during the time they are acting upon the bowls 61. To effect this, the opening 1), in which the bowl 71 works, is provided with grooved recesses upon its opposite sides, in which the bowl 71 enters as the plate L reaches the extreme limit of its movement in either direction, thus holding the plate in fixed position during the operation of the cams on and n upon the bowls 61.

The operation of the parts is as follows: In folding, the edge of the blade which is in advance relatively to the rotation of the cylinder II as it arrives at the first of the folding-rolls is caused to move outward beyond the periphery of the cylinder by the cams m and K, and its movement is continued as the blade passes the rolls, so that its edge is projected into the bite of two folding-rolls, thereby imparting a quarter-revolution to the blade, the

heart-shaped projection 62 at the end of the arm passing between the fixed cams 65 and controlling the movement of the arm and blade as the bowl passes the point of the cam m. As the movement of the cylinder continues the arm 60 and blade 70 are reversed, a half-revolution being completed by the action of the other side of the cam on and the fixed cams (55. On the next revolution of the cylinder the other edge of the blade performs the folding, and the arm and the blade are reversed as before. In this case-that is, when the folding-blade is to operate at each revolution and the sheets are not to be collected-the gear vwill be detached from the shaft- 67, and the plate L will be moved to its raised position and secured therein in anysuitable manner-as, for example, by a threaded bolt 72, which is passed through an opening in the gear 69 and the frame-work and enters a threaded opening in the plate L, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. The plate being secured in this position, the cam 0 will operate to retract the pins at each revolution of the cylinder and the cam m will remain in position to direct the bowl 61 outward for the operation of the folding-blade. If the sheets are to be collected, the folding-blade will be operated only at each alternate revolution of the cylinder. In this case the bolt '72 will be withdrawn and the gear 68 secured to the shaft 67, as in Fig. 10. As the blade approaches the folding-rolls upon the first revolution the crank carrying the bowl 71 will be in position to depress the plate L, so that the advance bowl 61, instead of being operated by the cam m for folding, will be carried onward in its annular path by the cam 12, and as a consequence no folding will take place, and, cam 0 being depressed, the pins 0 will not be retracted. Upon the second revolution of the cylinder the crank carrying the bowl 71 will be in position to raise the plate L, so that the bowl 61 will be operated by the cam m and the pins 0 will be retracted by the cam 0. This operation will be repeated,folding taking place at each alternate revolution of the cylinder.

If for any reason it should be desired to render the folding-blade entirely inoperative, the plate L will be moved to its lower position, the gear 68 being removed, when the weight of the plate will causeit to remain as positioned, or it may be secured thus in any suitable manner.

The mechanism of the cutting, collecting, and folding cylinders thus far described is that of the-application referred to.

For the purpose of guarding against the possibility of the machine being started while the gear 68 is fast to the shaft 07 and the gear 69 and plate L fast to the frame, in which case it is evident that serious breakage would result, I provide the following improved device: The gear 68, as previously stated, may be splined upon the shaft 67 and a holdingplate 74 secured to the gear by screws, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and provided with a central opening, through which a screw 75 passes to secure the plate and gear to the end of the shaft. The central opening in the plate 74 is enlarged and screw-tl1readed,from' which it will be seen that by removing the screw 75, which holds the plate to the shaftby pressure of its head upon the plate, an enlarged screw-threaded bolt may be inserted, by turning which against the end of the shaft the plate 74 and gear 68 will be withdrawn. Sliding upon bolts 76 in the frame isa slot-ted safety-plate 77, provided with an opening 7 8, which in the raised'position of the plate registers with the opening in the gear-wheel 69, through which the threaded bolt 72 passes for securing the gear to the frame. The safety-plate 77 in its lowest position extends upward to the lower edgeof the gear 68 and in its upper position extends partially over the space occupied by the gear when in position, as shown clearly in Fig. 11. When the gear 68 and plate 74 are in position, the plate 77 is held from upward movement by the plate 74, which extends outward'into the path of movement of the safety-plate 77. It will readily be seen from'this construction that it is impossible to raise the safety-plate 77, so as to insert the bolt 72, until the gear 68 and plate 74 have been removed, and on the other hand it is impossible to introduce the gear 68 and plate 74 for securing it to the shaft until the bolt 72 has been removed to allow the safety-plate 77 to be lowered.

The supplementary transverse folding mechanism will now be described.

The sheet is folded from the cylinder H by the blade between a pair of folding-rolls M N, the former carrying asingle-edged foldingblade, by which the sheet at each alternate revolution is either folded or guided between the rolls N 0, from which it passes under control of the tapes r over the guide 7 9, Fig. 8, and thence to a second pair of folding-rolls P Q, the former of which carries a singleedged folding-blade similar to that of roll M, by which the sheet is folded or guided between the rolls Q R and passes thence under control of the tapes 0" 3 either directly to a fly at the side of the machine or, after receiving a longitudinal fold, to a fly at the end of the machine, as will presently be described. The

construction and operation of the'two pairs of folding-rolls M N and P Q being the same, a detailed description of one pair will be sufficient.

Referring particularly to Figs. 12, 13, and 14, the roll M, which is half the size of the cylinder Ii[that is, its circumference is equal to the length of the sheet folded once transversely by the cutting and collecting cylindersis provided with a single-edged folding-blade t, the shaft of which is provided with a transverse arm 80, carrying two bowls 81, located inside the edge of the blade and the ends of the arm, the arm being provided at each end with a heart-shaped extension 82. At the end of the roll and secured to the frame is a cam S, the inner operating-surface of which is annular, except directly opposite the point at which the sheet is to be folded between the rolls N O, at which point the cam is so formed as to permit the bowl 81 and the blade 25 to be carried forward, so that the blade will pass between the rolls for folding or guiding the paper. ,The cam S is provided with an inwardly extending flange 83, which extends into the plane of rotation of the arm 80 and bowl 81, and the operating part of which, as shown clearly in Fig. 12, is formed with sides inclined in opposite directions to form a cam 10, conforming generally in shape to the cam S at that point and constituting an interior cam operating on the bowl 81 to direct the blade 25 between the rolls N O, the arm 80 being reversed as it passes the point of the cam. For the purpose of cont-rolling the movement of the arm as it passes out of the control of the cams w and S the cam S is provided with two inwardly-extending fixed cams 84, be-

tween which the heart-shaped ends 82 of the arm 80 pass, thus controlling the movements of the blade as the bowls pass the point of the cam to. It is important that the edge of the folding-blade shall follow as closely as possible the periphery of roll N as the blade advances the fold-line of the sheet, and that on the other hand the blade shall be thrown away from the periphery of roll 0 as the arm and blade are reversed. For this purpose the arm 80 and the bladetare placed upon the shaft 85 so that the blade is notin a parallel central position to the arm, but forms a slight angle therewith. The arm 80, with its bowls 81 and heart-shaped extensions 82, is also so constructed that a line drawn through the centers of the shaft and bowls will pass to opposite sides of the centers of the projections on the end of the arm, the blade 75 and the projection 82 onits end of the arm being upon opposite sides of the central line. By the angular position of the blade relatively to the arm and its bowls the edge of the blade is carried inside the central line of the arm as the folding-roll M rotateswith the blade in advance, thus enabling the bladeshaft to be placed close to the edge'of the roll, so as to carry the blade in a circle of substantially the same circumference as the roll, its speed thus being the same as that of the paper. The blade also will preferably be curved slightly, the curve beinginadirection to throw the edge of the bladeinward when in advance relatively to the rotation of the roll M. This curve with the angular position of the blade enables a longer blade to be used, and the curved blade follows more closely the periphery of roll N. By reference to Fig. 12, in which the arm and blade are shown in three positionsviz., as they approach the folding-point, during the operation of folding, and after the arm has been reversed-theoperation of this construction will readily be understood. As shown in this figure, the blade it during the folding revolution is carried with its edge close to the periphery of the roll M, thus travelingat the same speed as the paper fed by the rolls M N. As the blade reaches the folding-point it will be carried forward by the cam 10 with its edge close to and moving in a circle concentric with the periphery of roll, N, the projection 82 engaging the cams Si and by its shape and position guiding the blade in the same course as it passes out of the control of the cams w and S. As the arm passes the point of the cam it will pass into control of the opposite side of the cam w and the cam S and a half-revolution of the arm will be completed, the arm then being reversed and the blade being inoperative during the next rotation of the roll M. The shape and position of the projection 82 and the angular position of the blade operate to throw the edge of the blade away from the roll 0 as the folding movement of the blade is completed and the blade commences its movement away from the rolls N 0, this position of the blade being continued by the cam 10 as the arm passes into its control. To aid in this movement, the lower cam Set is placed at a slightly greater distance from the shaft of roll M than the upper cam. The shaft of roll M, as shown in Fig. 12, is grooved in the plane of rotation of the arm 80 to allow the extension 82 to pass the shaft as the arm is reversed. The blade t is adapted to operate either as a guiding or folding blade, and, as a folding-blade, to fold the sheet either on the central line or at one-third or other part of its length from the end. For the purpose of adjusting the roll M and its blade so that the blade shall operate in either of the three ways just referred to the following means are provided: The roll M is driven froth the cylinder I by means of a gear 80, which is mounted loosely upon a stud set into the frame, and is held in its outward position in mesh with the gear of roll M by means of a sleeve 88, secured between the gear 86 and the frame by means of a set-screw 89, as shown in Fig. 22. Vhen it is desired to adjust the position of the roll M, the screw 89 will be withdrawn and the sleeve 88 removed from the shaft. The gear 86 may then be moved toward the frame out of mesh with the gear on roll M, and by similarly loosening the gear 93, by which roll P is driven from roll M, the latter and its blade may be adjusted to any desired position. The roll P is provided likewise with a single-edged folding-blade 0c, the shaft of which is provided with a transverse arm 90, provided with bowls 91 and heartshaped projections similar to those described in connection with roll M, the blade being operated by an exterior cam T, an interior cam y, and fixed cams 92, the construction and operation of the parts being identical with those of roll M. This roll I is operated from the roll M by means of the intermediate gear 93, which is provided with means similar to those described in connection with the gear 86 whereby the gear may be moved out of mesh for the adjustment of the roll 1 to bring its folding-blade into either of the positions previously described, the gear 158 on the shaft of roll P being removed or loosened to avoid rotating the slitter,to be described hereinafter. A curved guide 122 is provided,by which the end of the sheet as it passes between therolls M N, prior to folding, is curved outward, thus permitting it to be more readily folded between the rolls N O, and the sheet is carried from these rolls to roll P by a series of tapes r, passing over a guide 79 and between rolls P Q, these tapes forming the upper series of the delivery-tapes. The upper series of tapes 1', as shown in Fig. 8, pass from a conducting-roll 94 over tightening-pulleys 95, under a conducting-roll to the folding-rollM, thence downward around the roll 0 over the guide 79, and around the folding-roll Q, returning thence to roll 94. The lower series of tapes 5 pass from the conducting-roll 96 around the folding-roll R, thence under a conducting-roll 197, and over tightening-pulleys 198 to the roll 96. If the sheet is not to receive a second longitudinal fold, it passes under the control of tapes 1' s from the rolls Q R, between which it is folded by blade 00 on roll P, to the fly 97 at the side of the machine, by which it is delivered against the steps 98 upon the carrier-tapes 99. For the purpose of imparting a second longitudinal fold to the sheet a pair of folding-rolls V extend in the line of motion of the tapes, and above them is mounted in suitable supports in the frame the foldingblade .2, adapted to fold the sheet between the rolls V, whence the sheet, folded twice longitudinally, passes to the fly 101 at the end of the machine and is delivered on the carrier-tapes 103 against the stops 102. of stops 104, carried in brackets upona shaft 105, extending longitudinally of the machine or transversely to the line of movement of the tapes. These brackets are adjustably secured upon the shaft by setscrews, and the shaft 105 may be adjusted by arm 120, Figs. 0 and 7, and held by thumb-screw 121 entering the frame, either so that the stops 104 are in their upper positions, as shown in full lines in Fig. 8, in which case the sheetpasses freely be- Above the tapes 7' s are placed a series Fig. 20.

neath them to the fly 97, or in their lower position, as shown in dotted lines in the same figure, in which they act to stop the sheets, thus o-operating with the folding-blade z to form the second longitudinal fold. These stops are slotted and adjustable in their brackets in the line of movement of the tapes, being held in position by thumb-screws 123, the stops being thus positioned for sheets of different lengths. The folding-blade z is carried by cranks 106, mounted on shafts 107 in the frame of the machine, the cranks 106 being preferably bell-cranks, as shown, one arm of each being pivotally connected to the blade and their other arms being connected by rod 108, thus insuring certainty in the action of the blade and relieving the strain upon it. One of the cranks 106 is loose upon its shaft 107 and the otheris secured to its shaft, which is provided with a crank-arm 109, to which is connected an operating-rod 110, Fig.7.

A longitudinal folding-blade having a vertical and longitudinal motion and carried by bell-cranks, the other arms of which are connected by a rod, forms no part of the present invention, but is described and claimed in my prior application, Serial No. 160,180, filed March 27, 1885. I have provided, however, an improved mechanism for operating the folding blade positively during its entire movement and for holding the blade out of position when it is not desired to fold the sheet a sec- 0nd time longitudinal-1y.

As shown in Fig. 7, a gear 111 is provided with a crank-pin upon its side, thus forming a crank-wheel, and the arm 1101's provided with a hook and set-screw 112, by which the arm may be secured to a pin upon the frame, thus holding the blade in its upper inoperative position, this position of the arm being shown in full lines in Fig. 7, or by which the arm may be secured to the crank-pin upon the gear 111, as shown in dotted lines in the same figure, thus operating the blade 2 at each revolution of the gear through crank 109 and shaft 107. To allow the operating-arm to yield in case of a choke, thus preventing breakage, and to give a yielding pressure to the blade, the arm 110 is made in two parts an outer cylinder connected to the crank-arm 109 and a rod 125,'sliding therein and carrying the hook 112. A coiled spring 126 is inserted in the cylinder and is attached at one end to a collar 127 on the rod 125, its other end being held against the end of the cylinder. This construction is shown fully in In the operation of sheet-folding mechanism it is found that in folding a sheet transversely to a line of previous fold, especially when the sheet consists of many plies, wrinkles are formed in the sheet on both sides of the fold-line at and near the bight of the previous fold of the sheet. I .avoid this difficulty by the use of a slitter, which is con structed and arranged to slit the bight of the sheet prior to or during the process of folding and on the fold-line, the slit extending inward but a short distancesufliciently to allow the slit edge to open slightly on the fold-line as the fold is made, as shown in Fig. 26.

The slitter and mechanism for operating it may be of any suitable form, it being evident that both may be varied widely. I have provided a simple and convenient construction for this purpose, which is shown particularly in Figs. 3, 7, 8, and 21. Referring to these figures, 147 is a shaft supported in the rear of the folding-blade .2 in the brackets 1 18 149. This shaft 147 has adj nstably secured thereto arms 150, in which is loosely mounted a shaft 151, carrying the rotary slitter 152. This shaft 151 is provided with a small gear 153, which engages with a gear 154, carried by a sleeve 155, loose on the shaft 117. This sleeve 155 carries also a gear 156, which engages with a gear 157, mounted on a stud in the frame and. engaging gear 158, carried by the shaft of roll P, this gear 158 preferably being made removable fora purpose hereinafterexplained. The shaft 147 is provided also with a crank-arm 159, preferably adjustable upon the shaft, as shown. To the end of the crankarm 159 is connected a pitnian 160, provided at its end with a hook 161, by which the pitman is secured to the crank-pin 162 on the gear 157. The pitman 160 may be detached from the crank-pin 162 and swung into position to engage with and be securedto pin 163 upon the frame, by which the shaft 147 will be rocked to carry the slitter- 152 out of position for operation upon the sheet. The operation of the device will readily be understood from the drawings and a brief description.

As each sheet passes from the folding-rolls P Q R to a position to be operated upon by the folding-blade ,2, the rotating slitter 152, by the rocking of the shaft 147 by the crankwheel 157, will be carried into position to slit the bight of the sheet for a short distance, the further rotation of the crank-wheel 157 rocking the shaft o as to carry the slitter 152 out of position to engage the sheet, the operation being repeated as the'next sheet reaches the same point. If the sheet is to be delivered at the side of the machine without the second longitudinal fold, the pitman 160 may be detached from crank-pin 162 and secured to pin 163 upon the frame, when the slitter 152 will be thrown above the plane of movement of the sheet and held in this position,the sheets thus passing onward without being slit. The gear 158 also may be removed to stop the rotation of the slitter. If it be desired to slit the entire sheet without folding, so as to deto slit the entire sheet during its throw, when the gear 158 will be tightened or replaced on its shaft. In the same way the slitter may be adjusted to slit the edge of the sheet to any extent required. The slit will generally be required only upon one edge of the sheet that which has received the last fold. \Vhen the sheet consists of many plies, however, it may be found desirable to slit the bights at both edges, for which it is evident that the slitter may bereadilyarranged,the operation of the slitter on one or both edges depending on the relative movements of the sheet-feedin g and slitter-rockin g mechanism, which may be varied as desired by changing either the gears or form of the connections between gear 157 and pitman 160.

In the operation of cutting, collecting, and folding cylinders as heretofore constructed it has been found that in the process of collecting the under sheet upon the cylinder has a tendency to back up under the tension of the outer sheet or the web as it is received upon the cylinder, this often resulting in the rear edge of the sheet being carried backward over the cutting-groove, so that in the severance of the second sheet a narrow strip is cut from the under sheet, which is objectionable for many reasons. To avoid this objectionable feature I have provided the following mechanism: As shown in Figs. 7,15, and 1G, ashaft 113 is supported in the frame and extends longitudinally of the machine above the cutting and collecting cylinder II, from which cylinder the shaft 113 is driven by means of a gear 114. This shaft 113 carriesa tuckingblade 115, supported by arms 12S, extending from brackets 129, adjustably mounted upon the shaft 113, and secured in position by means of set-screws, as shown, or in any other suitable manner. The gear 114 is splined to the shaft 113, so that the gear may be moved out of mesh with the gear on cylinder H, and secured in position by a pin 116 in the side of the frame entering a recess in the hub of the gear, thus locking the gearin inoperative position, the sleeve by which the gear is carried being provided with a set-screw, by which it may be secured upon the shaft in any desired position. The pin 116 and recess are so placed that when the pin enters the recess the shaft 113 will have been rotated so that the tucking-blade 115 is carried out of engagement with the cylinder H, and is then held in this position by the locking of gear 114, the blade being in operative position only when the sheets are to be collected. As shown clearly in Fig. 15,the gear 114 and the tucking-blade are so timed in their movement relatively to the cylinder II that the blade 115 enters a groove 117, formed in the latter cylinder just in advance of the cutting-groove, thus operating to tuck and hold temporarily within the groove the rear end of the sheet, drawing the sheet away from the cutting-groove and carrying its end down into the groove 117. It may happen that as the blade 115 is drawn from the groove 1.17 by the movement of the cylinders the end of the sheet will. be drawn or will fly out of the groove 117, the end thus being carried back over the cutting-groove. To prevent thisI preferably provide the groove 117 with a shoulder 9,which extends over the rear side of the groove, and against which the end of the sheet is held, thus preventing its passing out of the groove. I provide, also, a series of guards 11S, formed,preferably, of wire or narrow strips of sheet metal curved around the cylinder H, and extending forward nearly to the point at which the web passes between the cylinders II 1, these guards acting to hold the collected sheets to the surface of the cylinderas the tucking-blade is withdrawn and to prevent buckling of the sheet between the groove 117 and the end of the guards, all slack in the paper thereby being transmitted beneath the guards to the groove 117 and taken up as the end of the sheet is tucked into the groove, as previously described. It will be understood that the blade 115 is recessed opposite the guards 118 to permit the blade to enter the groove. The guards 118 are carried by supports 119, adjustably mounted upon a shaft 130 and held in position thereon by thumbserews 131, these supports carrying also guards 132, extending about the cylinder II in a direction opposite to that of the guards 118.

In the operation of web-printing machines in which"the paper, as'is usual, is led to cutting, collccting, and folding cylinders, one of which carries a set of sheet-holding pins, by which the sheet is siezed and carried about the cylinder, it is found that occasionally, after the Web has been seized by the pins as it passes between the cylinders, it will be removed therefrom, thereby interfering with the operation of the machine by causing a choke or otherwise. This occurs in some cases independently of any special manner in which the web is led from the folder to the collecting-cylinders. In machines, however, in which a longitudinal folder of the form shown is employed it is found that the best results are obtained when the folder is so positioned that the web does not pass from the folder to the feeding-rolls in a direct vertical line, but, as shown in Fig. 17, at asmall angle to the vertical, the web moving slightly toward the front end of the feeding-rolls. \Vith this arrangement of the folder it is found that a slight slack will occur in the rear edge of the web as it passes from the feeding-rolls 52 to the cutting and collecting cylinders, 011 account of the return of the web to a vertical movement by the action of tho cylinders, and this slack causes an increase in the tendency of the web to be thrown off the pins 0 when the leading edge of the web has passed between the cnttin g and folding' cylinders. For the purpose of avoiding this and for the purpose of taking up the slack resulting from the position of the folder I have provided the following mechanism:

IIO 

